by New BMW iX3 Rapidly Conquers the European Market
The new BMW iX3, equipped with innovative design and the most modern powertrain from the Bavarian manufacturer, is demonstrating impressive popularity. In the first months of the year in Europe, it not only gained recognition but also contributed to the overall growth of sales in the premium midsize crossover segment.
Deliveries of the second-generation iX3 in Europe began in March, six months after its official presentation. According to data from the research firm Dataforce, cited by Autonews, by the end of April, BMW had sold 10,299 units. This was enough to overtake the Polestar 4, which had 8,925 sales, with Polestar having the advantage of time, as it was on sale for all four months, while BMW was only on sale in March and April.
The new iX3 even approached the figures of the Audi Q6 e-tron, which recorded 12,536 sales in the first four months of the year. It is worth noting that Audi’s sales fell by 23% compared to the same period last year, and given the momentum, the Bavarian crossover could soon take the lead.
Production Capacity Under Demand Pressure
The iX3’s closest competitor, the electric Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ technology, also went on sale in March, although its figures are not yet available. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius stated that the order book is full until the end of the year, and the GLC continues to lead overall sales in the premium midsize crossover segment with 41,227 units. This figure likely includes both internal combustion engine models and electric ones. It is followed by the internal combustion engine BMW X3, which sold 28,389 units from January to April.
Best-Selling Premium Midsize Crossovers in Europe
| # | Model | January-April 2026 | Change vs. 2025 |
| 1 | Mercedes GLC | 41,227 | 20% |
| 2 | BMW X3 | 28,389 | 55% |
| 3 | Volvo XC60 | 27,627 | -13% |
| 4 | Audi Q4 E-tron | 14,780 | -1.90% |
| 5 | Audi Q5 | 12,808 | 23% |
| 6 | Audi Q6 E-tron | 12,536 | -23% |
| 7 | BMW iX3 | 10,299 | NEW |
| 8 | Polestar 4 | 8,925 | 35% |
| 9 | Audi Q5 Sportback | 8,580 | 58% |
| 10 | Porsche Macan | 7,988 | -31% |
Source: Dataforce
Earlier this year, BMW reported receiving over 50,000 orders for the iX3. Due to high demand, a second shift was added at the Debrecen plant in February. Deliveries to the US and Asia will begin in the coming months. BMW also notes that every third iX3 buyer is new to the brand, meaning they did not previously own a BMW vehicle.
Such a rapid start for the iX3 indicates a successful combination of innovative design and advanced technology, attracting not only loyal BMW customers but also a new audience. Given the plans to expand the geography of deliveries, particularly to the US and Asian markets, further sales growth can be expected. This also underscores the overall trend of increasing demand for premium electric vehicles in Europe, where even powerful players like Audi are experiencing some decline, making way for new models.
